A father authorities charged with bruising his infant son in 2001 is in police custody in lieu of $50,000 bond, a full 10 years after a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Derek Allen Moore, 31, of St. Louis, Mo., appeared in a hearing Wednesday in connection with the March 13, 2001, charge of battery, which came after the child's mother told police their 3-month-old son had bruises on his neck, back and arms after staying in the care of Moore while she worked.

When asked what happened to the boy, Moore told the mother the child "got his head and arm caught in the torn binding of his blanket," according to court documents.

During a police interview in 2001, Moore told authorities the infant would not stop crying on the day in question, but denied choking the baby in an effort to stop the crying. The child's mother, however, told authorities she saw Moore place a pillow over the boy's body to quiet him just one day prior to the alleged incident.

At the hearing, Moore said he was unaware of the warrant for his arrest in the alleged battery, and said he had a family in St. Louis. Although a prosecutor recommended Moore be ordered to post $20,000 bond to secure pre-trial release ahead of a May 16 court date, District Judge Don Bourne ordered the higher amount, citing Moore's lengthy time as a fugitive.

The case is one of 25 on file in the Pope County Circuit Clerk's Office that would turn 10 years old at some point this year, as identified in a Jan. 24 report by Adam Sweeney.

Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons said at the time the office used discretion in determining what cases to keep active, but noted there is often little reason not to maintain charges in anticipation of the date when a suspect will meet law enforcement.

Other hearings

The following individuals also appeared during felony bond hearings Wednesday in Pope County. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed.

An Arkansas State Police trooper arrested Schmitt following an Interstate 40 traffic stop during which the man appeared nervous and admitted to possession of marijuana for "personal use," according to a report.

During a subsequent search of Schmitt's truck, the officer found a small bag of marijuana and a smoking pipe inside the cab, in addition to two duffel bags filled with 21 vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana, weighing about 16 pounds and valued at $25,000, inside the truckbed.

About 7.5 pounds of mushrooms of an unknown variety were also seized from the Richmond, Va., man's truck, according to a report.

n Macy Tyrone Thompson, 20, burglary and theft of property - $10,000.

Police arrested Thompson after he and two others allegedly entered a South Frankfort Avenue home and took $6,000 and a quantity of marijuana and "X-pills," or ecstasy, according to a report.